Leicester's Coach Geoff Powell Ejects TNT Sports Host in Fiery Exchange
Leicester Tigers head coach Geoff Powell made headlines for his explosive confrontation with TNT Sports host Craig Doyle before the Slater Cup match against Gloucester at Villa Park. The incident unfolded during warm-ups when Doyle challenged Liam MacDevitt, a former footballer and member of the TNT Sports production team, to kick towards the posts. As MacDevitt attempted the kick as part of an initiation ritual, Powell intervened, expressing his frustration: "That’s not on. That’s f---ing not on. Get off the pitch." In response, Doyle backed away and apologized to viewers, acknowledging Powell's displeasure. He remarked, "Geoff’s not happy about that." The initiation involved MacDevitt attempting to successfully kick a conversion from the tee, a challenge typically requiring participants to either sing or consume something distasteful. Unfortunately, MacDevitt's kick went wide, landing near the Leicester players warming up. When Powell approached Doyle and MacDevitt, he was met with Doyle's playful inquiry: "Would you sign him Geoff?" However, Powell's irritation was palpable, prompting Doyle to describe the situation as “understandably upset” as they were escorted off the pitch. The altercation not only highlighted the intense atmosphere surrounding the match but also underscored the competitive nature of rugby, even in lighthearted moments.
Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-03-28